Govt procured Gandhi's belongings through Mallya: Soni

New Delhi, Mar 5 (PTI) The Indian Government procured the
five personal articles of Mahatma Gandhi at a New York auction
through the services of industrialist Vijay Mallya as it could
not bid directly because of a stay order of the Delhi High
Court, Culture Minister Ambika Soni said Friday.

The priceless items were "procured through the services
of an Indian, Vijay Mallya" and his representative was "in
touch with us" through the Indian Consulate in New York, she
told a press conference here.

Soni said the memorabilia, including the iconic
metal-rimmed glasses of the Mahatma, were acquired in "close
cooperation' between her department and the External Affairs
Ministry.

Soni explained that the Government could not be
directly involved in the bidding process as it was bound by an
injunction order of the Delhi High Court which had stayed the
auction.

"The reason why the Indian Government could not take
part in the auction was a restraining order of the Delhi High
Court," she said.

Replying to questions, the Minister said that the
government was in talks with "private persons" and was able to
procure the Mahatma's belongings "through the services of
Vijay Mallya, who was in touch with us, and whose
representative was in touch with our mission in the US".

The High Court had on March 3 passed an interim
injunction order to prevent the articles from going under the
hammer on a petition by the Ahmedabad-based Navjeevan Trust,
which has rights over the Mahatma's belongings. The Court had
also issued notice to the auction house, Antiquorum
Auctioneers, returnable on May 6.

Soni said it may take "two-odd weeks" for legal issues
relating to the ownership of the items to be settled.

The Minister denied that the government had been caught
napping on the issue while maintaining the procuring of the
items was an achievement of the ruling UPA government that
included the efforts made by the External Affairs Ministry.

Soni said the Government had made all efforts to prevent
the auction and even the owner of the Mahatma's items, James
Otis, did not want an auction. The US Justice Department had
also issued a notice to the auctioner, she said.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had himself stepped in and
asked her to ensure that the items were brought back to India,
she said.

The Government had then kept "four options" open to
procure the five items, the Minister said, but did not specify
what these options were. PTI RC
AM